It seems nearly unfair to this magnificent story to call it a "palate cleanser", but after an awful amount of bitter or melodramatic stories I have read lately it truly was a healing experience. This is perhaps what you could call the "ideal" yuri story.
A reasonable age gap with responsible and considerate partners that go through their fair share of troubles, but never stray into true drama territory. The manga acknowledges the challenges same sex couples face, but it keeps an opitmistic outlook. The characters even went through tangible changes, for if you compared them between chapter 1 and 15 it truly does feel like Hinanon grew up and Yayoi became more balanced as a person. All too often narratives that go through an entire section of life (high school) have trouble organically growing their characters up, but not so here.
If there was even the tiniest nitpick I could muster, it is that there was no coming out to the families. Of course we never had any contact with Yayoi's side, but Hinanon's sister and mother would have surely given interesting reactions. Although with Hina's incredible drive and well earned confidence I believe she will doubtlessly make it through that last hurdle as well. As long as Yayoi keeps showing her earnest approach and reliable side any parent should be happy to know their daughter in the good hands of such a woman.
last edited at Oct 27, 2021 3:24PM